SALINA, Kan. -First by balloon, now by plane, Steve Fossett is once again a 'round-the-world record holder.
The millionaire adventurer yesterday became the first person to fly around the world alone without stopping or refueling, touching down in central Kansas after a 67-hour, 23,000-mile journey that appeared endangered at times by a troubled fuel system.
Fossett, who failed five times before successfully circumnavigating the globe solo in a balloon, needed just one try to make the trip in a plane. He holds many other records as a balloonist, pilot and sailor.
Fossett's GlobalFlyer, designed by the same engineer who came up with the Voyager aircraft that first completed the trip in 1986 with two pilots aboard, touched down on the center line at the Salina airport at 1:50 p.m. yesterday.
Immediately after leaving the cockpit, a jubilant Fossett hugged his wife, Peggy, and was congratulated by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Atlantic founder who financed the flight.
That was something I wanted to do for a long time
a major ambition Fossett said.
Although he looked surprisingly fresh, the millionaire from Chicago said he was tired and ready for a bath and a good meal. He planned to rest before attending a celebration for the crew and supporters yesterday night in Salina.
Believe me it's great to be back on the ground
Fossett said. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done. Branson grabbed a bottle of champagne from Fossett, shook it up and sprayed down the pilot.
It's been a magnificent trip
Branson said. He was obviously over the moon about it. Fossett said he survived on 12 milkshakes and water during the flight. He said his main problems were headaches, which went away when he drank water, and a lack of sleep. Fossett used bottles as his bathroom.
He said he was overwhelmed by the number of people who watched the flight on television and the Internet and by the tens of thousands who were at the airport to watch him land. But he insisted his adventures were not publicity stunts.
I would do these things if nobody was paying attention
Fossett said.
Fossett, 60, set his ballooning record in 2002, taking off and landing in Australia. He also has swum the English Channel, taken part in the Iditarod sled dog race and driven in the 24 Hours of Le Mans car race.
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